Thursday, June 08, 2017



30 years nuclear free

nuclear-badge

Thirty years ago today, the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987 came into force. The law didn't just ban nuclear weapons from New Zealand - it was also a statement of who we were as a nation: peaceful and independent.

A decade ago when the 20th anniversary rolled around, the nuclear-free policy was still being contested by National party refuseniks who wanted to sell us out to Washington. Now its an accepted fact, political bedrock, which no politician seriously suggests changing. Even the US has now accepted it and gotten over their grudge - and their National minions have followed suit.

But while our nuclear-free status is stable, nuclear weapons are still a threat to the world. Our government should mark the day by reiterating its opposition to them, regardless of who owns them, and re-committing towards their complete global elimination. And if this pisses off the hegemon and causes 3am drunk-tweeting, then so be it.